Laundry machine utilizing a wobble-type agitator



E. J. DOYLE Sept. 3, 1963 LAUNDRY MACHINE UTILIZING A woBBLE-TYPEAGITATOR `Filed Feb. 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllHI INVENTOR.EDA/ARD J.' ,Ow/LE Sept. 3, 1963 E. .1. DOYLE 3,102,410

LAUNDRY MACHINE UTILIZING A woBBLE-TYPE AGITATOR Filed Feb. 21, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Pfg. L3. BYM/Mwuozc United States Patent O 3,l02,410LAUNDRY MAQHlNlS UTlLlZIN-G A WBE'BLE- TYPE AGHTATR- Edward l. Doyle,Hatboro, la., assigner to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 17mm@ Thisinvention relates to laundry machines, and more particularly to laundrymachines utilizing wobble-type agitators. i

In laundry machines generally, it is the practice to achieve -eifectivewashing by imparting vigorous movements to the clothes being laundered.In wobble-type laundry machines, the washing action is accomplished by4freely journalling `an agitator of suitable conliguration on anobliquely disposed member, such as an inclined portion of a rotatabledrive shaft, the agitator being prevented froni rotating with respect tothe tub by-suitable restraining means. `Continuous unidirectionalrotation of the drive shaft, acting through the inclined shaft portion,imparts a nonrotational undulatory or wobbling motion to the agitator,producing circulation of the washing uid and causing articles beingWashed to be brought into intimate contact with the turbulent streams ofwater generated by movement 'of the agitator.

The problem of clothes smothering in wobble-type machines `has been metby provision of a column extending upwardly from the center of theagitator, rwhich column prevents clothes from covering the agitatorassembly by virtue of its presence in this region. Apparatus tof thistype is disclosed land claimed in U.S. Patent No. 2,902,851, issued toGeorge C. Fields on September 8, 1959, and assigned to the assignee ofthis invention. In the reference patent, mechanism is provided wherebymotion of the column is :distinct from that of the agitator assembly inorder to set up culrents which .act to provide more eilicient Washing ofthe clothes while preventing smothering. In apparatus of this typelinkage Ameans is provided to bring about the `above describedmovements, which means requires its own flexible seals.

lt is an objective of the present invention to provide an improvedcombination of -a stationary column and wobbletype agitator apparatusthrough which the number of linkages and linkage seals is reduced, andwhich combination achieves optimum washing action.

In achievement of the foregoing and other objectives, the inventioncontemplates provision of a wobble-plate agitator supported by a spiderbracket structure aixed to Asuitable bearing means mounted upon yaninclined shaft extending into the tub and spin basket of a washingmachine. A vertically extending column is supported concentrically withthe tub yand basket by bracket means amxed to the basket and .includingleg portions that interdigitate with the agitator support bracketstructure. The construction and arrangement is such that the agitatorsupport bracket undulates` within the spaces between the leg portions ofthe column support bracket. The agitator assembly is, in one embodimentof the invention, suitably apertured whereby turbulent streams ofwash-duid are created by a pumping action which directs such streamsdownwardly through the `agitator and outwardly `from the bottom 1andthrough the space between the agitator and the basket.

For a better understanding of the foregoing as well as other objects andfeatures `of the invention,` reference may be had to the following`description taken in light of the accompanying drawing, `in which:

FIGURE -1 is a perspective showing of `a laundry machine embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is 1an elevational view of the machine illuslCC trated inFIGURE l, partly 4in section and with` parts broken away, `andillustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIC-JRE 3 is an elevational viewof the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2,partlyin section and with parts removed;

FlGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, looking in the ygeneraldirection `of arrows 4 4 applied to FIGURE 5, and illustrating a secondembodiment of the invention;

and

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of the embodiment of the invention illustratedin FIGURE 4, and with parts removed.

With more particular reference to the drawings, and :irst to FlGURE l,the invention is embodied in a Washing machine l() of the type includinga cabinet 11 having a top wall 12 provided with an access opening 13,vand la door `llihingedly mounted over the opening. Control means forthe machine comprise control elements, see, `for example l5 and i6,mounted upon a panel 17.

In ythe embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 2 vand 3, anupward-ly presented tub Z1 is housed -Within the cabinet. Tub 21 issupported upon `a tubular column 22 that is resil-iently mounted uponsuitable base means (not shown) forming part of the cabinet y1.1. Thereare `also housed Within the cabinet suitable motor and transmissionmeans, such `for example as is disclosed and claimed in the icopendingdisclosure of Joseph Pelensky, tiled December 26, 1961, bearing SerialNo. 161, 962, and assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention. Therelationship of the motor rand transmission means to the apparatus ofthe present invention, while not necessary to an understanding of thelatter, will be discussed brieiiy later in this description.

An upwardly presented rotatable clothes container means or basket 23 isnested within tub 21 and supported upon hub means 24 journalled withinbearing means 25 provided in the bottom `of stationary tub 21, in theregion `of the upper end of column 22. A hollow shaft 26 extendsdownwardly from hub means 24, concentrically as respects column 22, and-is connected to the output drive of the transmission 'which provideshigh speed spin of basket 23. A solid shaft 27` is disposedconcentrically within the hollow shaft 26. Shaft 27 is journalled bybearings 28 and 29 for rotation within hub means 24 land its extension26, and `is adapted to be rotated by the `output drive of thetransmission which provides 4for operation ofagitator 31. Agitator 31will be described in `detail in what follows, `and rst as respectstheyembodiment of the invent-ion illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The upper end of shaft 27 includes an inclined portion 32, Aand anannular base 33 for agitator 31 lis iournalled -to inclined shaftportion 32 by bearing means 34; Agitator base 33 is restnained fromrotating relative to basket 23 by a flexible sleeve 35 that extends fromclamped sealing engagement with base 33 into clamped sealing engagement`with basket hub 24. Hub 24 is sealed yto tub Z1 by means ofcylindrically formed seal 36 4and flexible and resilient face seal 37which seals, with slidable abutting engagement, `against a ring 41disposed concentrically with 'and in the :bottom of tub 21. Ring sealsare provided vas seen at 42 between base 33 and shaft portion 32, and att3 between hub 24 `and shaft portion 32. A plate 44 is clamped toagitator base 33 and `closes the end of this element. Plate i4 isclamped to base 33 by base portions 46 of the spider element 4S, whichportions 46 Iare :forcibly urged against base 33 by studs 47 through theintermediation of the plate 44 `and the gaskets as shown.

Spider 45 includes 'legs 53 that extend with clearance through generallyvertically extending slots provided in a generally conical member 54mounted at its base to basket 23, in concentric relation thereto. At thevertex of member 54 is ia vertically extending rod 56 upon whichismounted a generally tapered column 57 including a downwardly flaredportion 58 at its lower end.

Agitator 31 further includes a ring 61 provided with a ila-t portion 62which is supported upon legs 53 of spider 45, and -a generallydownwardly presented undulatory portion 63. An annular flexible andresilient llipper or vane 64 is clamped against undulatory portion 63 ofring 61 by ia ring 65 which includes a `similar undulatorly portion 66,and vane 64 assumes the undular shapes thereof.

Ring 65 also comprises a flattened upper portion 67 which.

includes a central opening 68 through which column 5,6 extends withsubstantial clearance. Portion 67 of ring 65 ,is disposed and adapted,upon undulatory movements of the agitator, to move into and out of thespace enclosed by downwardly aringportion S of 'column 57, whereby toeffect lat liuid pumping action.

The central portion of basket 23, in the region of hub means-24 'beneathconical member 54, includes a depression 71 which has `a plurality ofapertures 72. Apertures 72 together lwith slots 55 in member 54 providelluid How communication between the interior of basket 23- and tub 21.The lluid flow path provided by apertures y72 and slots 55 is sopositioned relative to the agitator as to accommodate flow of turbulentstreams of wash iluid downwardly -throughthe opening 68, slots 55,apertures 7 2, and into tub 21. From tub 21, the iluid ilows upwardlythrough apertures 73 provided in the bottom of basket 23, followingwhich the fluid is drawn between column flare 58 land rin-g 65 forsubsequent turbulent flow as described previously. Pumping Iaction isachieved by the agitator, to create this turbulent ow, through `thealternate squeezing and releasing of the Huid between column flare 5Sand 'agita-tor ring 55 :concurrently with alternate releasing andsqueezing of the liuid between agitator vane 64 and ring 61, and member54 and basket depression 71.

93 and hub 83 of the basket. Hub 83 is sealed to the tub by means offace seal 96.

A cylindrical member 97 `of the lagitator includes a lower outwardlypresented flange portion 101 and an upper, inwardly presented undulatedflange portion 102. Member 97 is mounted to base 93 by means of bolts(not shown) that clamp flange portion 101 to 'a confronting annularflange portion 103 of agitator base 93. The peripheral portions offlanges 101 and 103 are so configured `and adapted to 'clamp 'a beadportion of an annular seal 103 that is `clamped also along its outer rimto the bottom of basket 82, along the edge of a depressed portion 104 ofthe latter disposed below the agitator.

An annular vane 105 is clamped between undulatory flange 102 andasimilarly undulatory plate 106, by bolts Ias shown. Agitator vaneconstruction of this general type is disclosed in the hereinbeforementioned U.S. Patent No. 2,902,851, :and reference may had thereto fora full showing if desired. The vane 105 includes an upwardly extendingbellows portion 107 Ithat is `clamped in lluidtight relation to asuitably `formed portions of a central column designated generally bythe numeral 111. Seal 100, bellows portion 107 landsleeve 95 cooperateto restrain the agitator from rotating relative to basket 82.

According to lthe invention, the agitator base 93 has three slottedopenings 112 through which extend the rodlike legs 1'13 of column 111,in interdigitating or interposed non-interfering relation to legpontions of the slotted base. Legs 113 of the column serve as a rigidsupport for the same and are mounted upon hub means 83 of basket 82.Legs 1,13 include horizontally extending portions that convergecentrally as respects the agitaltor and support an upwardly extendingrod 114. Col- In achievement of the above described washin-g actionbasket 2.3 is held stationary by suitable brake means (not shown) vwhileagitator shaft 27 is rotated by the drive f motor. Such mechanism, lasnoted earlier in this description, mayl be marde in 'accordance with thereferenced Pelensky disclosure. As `shaft 27 is rotated, the inclinedportion 32 moves orbitally with both translational and rotationalmovements. In rotating, the inclined shaft portion has relative movementwith respect to agitator base 33, through bearing 34. The agitator 31,however, is prevented -rom rotating relative to basket 23 by flexiblesleeve 35, such 4that movements of the agitator are undulatory, landlegs 53 of spider 45 move up-'and-down within slots 55 provided inconical member 54, -as clearly appears Iin FIGURE 3, `and innon-interfering relation with respect to leg portions of the conicalmember comprising the solid sections between the slots 55.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5in a machine comprising a non-rotable tub 80 supported upon aresiliently mounted, vertically extending tubular column 81.

A rotatable container means or basket S2 (shown fnagmentarily) issupported upon hub means 83 which, as in the embodiment illus- `tratedin FIGURES 2 and 3, includes ya hollow shaft 85 extending downwardlytherefrom concentrically 'with `.column 81. Hub means 83 is journalledfor rotation within tub S0 by bearing means 84 disposed between hubextension 85 and column 81. A solid shaft S6 is concentric with hollowshaft 85, and is journalled by bearing 87 within ihub means 83 forrotation relative to the hub means and its shaft extension 85.

'Ihe upper end` of shaft 86 includes lan inclined portion 91 aixed tothe former by a pin 92. A `generally ydisk shaped agitator base93 isjournalled to inclined shaft portion 91. by a bearing 94, and agitatorbase 93 is restrained from rotating relative to basket S2 in part by aflexible sleeve 95 that is clamped in fluid-tight relation to the baseumn 111 further includes a vertically extending tapered member 11Sprovided with a lower, downwardly ilared portion 116 that overliesundulated plate 106 and is mounted to a clamping plate 117 which clampsbellows portion 107 of flipper 105 to llared portion 1116 of member1f15. Plate 117 is, in-turn, xedly mounted upon rod 114 by a screwthreadedly received within the latter.

In the achievement of the washing action, basket 82 is held stationaryand agitator shaft 86 tis rotated by the drive motor. Rotation of shaft86 causes agitator lbase 93 and structure aliixed thereto to undulate inthe same manner as the agitator in FIGURES 2 and 3. The agitatorundulates freely relative to the column 11, the lagitator base movingventically as respects the legs 11-3 which extend with clearance throughopenings 1212 lprovided in the former. As a result of this movement, uidis alternately squeezed and released between vane 1105 and its bellowsportion 107, and further is impelled alternately upwardly and,downwardly by vane 105.

From the foregoing description it will be apprecir'ated that thelinvention achieves optimum washing action,

by virtue of the turbulent streams of wash fluid impelled by theagitator vanes. These vanes cooperate with the iixed support column toachieve improved washing action, while the latter element preventssmothering of the agitator action by preventing fabrics being Washedfrom settling atop the agitator. Moreover, by xedly mounting the columnupon for example tripod means as illustrated, there is achieved adesirable relative movement between the same and the agitator whichenhances the washing action, yet requires no mechanical linkage betweenthe agitator and column.

While a pair of preferred embodiments of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention issusceptible of other modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim: l. In a laundry machine, the combination comprismg: basketmeans within which may be disposed clothes to be washed; bracket meansdisposed within said basket means including a central portion concentricwith the axis of said basket means, and leg portions having base meansmounting the bracket means upon said basket means; column meanssuppor-ted by said bracket means and extending coaxially with saidcentral portion of said bracket means; Vand wobble-plate agitator meanswithin said basket means, including radially extending portions disposedin interdigitating relation with said leg portions ot said bracketmeans, and vane means supported by said radially extending portions.

2. The combination according to claim l, and further characterized inthat said bracket means comprises a hollow member and said leg pontionsare dened by apertured wall portions of said member through theapertures of which said radially extending portions extend, said memberhaving its base portion amxed to said basket means.

3. The combination according to claim 1, and further characterized inthat said agitator means includes a generally disk shaped base memberhaving openings through which said leg portions of said bracket meansextend.

4. The combination according to claim l, and further characterized'by:said vane means comprising an undulatory liexible and resilient annularmember; and by the inclusion of a pair of plates clamping said memberand supported upon said radially extending portions, one of saidclamping plates being disposed above the other and comprising a ringportion including a surface disposed within angularity as respects, andin overlying relation to, said plate, said plate and ring portionencircling said column means with clearance; and by said columnincluding a downwardly flaring portion spaced `from and substantiallyoverlying said ring portion, the construction and arrangement being suchthat upon undulating movement of the agitator means, wash fluid withinsaid basket is caused to be pumped, by the cooperative action of saidring and said column means flaring portion, through the central openingof said agitator means and through spaces between elements of said legportions cf said bracket means. 4

5. In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: tub means;perforate basket means mounted for rotation about its axis within saidtub means; bracket means disposed within said basket and including legportions mounted upon said basket means and further including a centralportion concentric with said axis; column means extending coaxially withsaid central portion of said bracket means; and wobble-plate agitatormeans Within said basket means, including radially extending armsdisposed in interdigitating relation as respects said leg portions ofsaid bracket means, and vane means supported by said arms.

6. The combination according to claim 5 and further characterized inthat said bracket means comprises a hollow member and said leg portionsare defined by apertured wall portions of said member through theapertures of which said support arms extend, said member having a baseportion aiixed to said basket means.

7. The combination according to claim 5, and further characterized inthat said agitator means includes a generally disk-shaped base memberhaving openings through which said leg portions of said lbracket meansextend.

8. The combination according to claim 5 and further characterized by:said vane means comprising an undulatory flexible `and resilient annularmember; by the inclu* sion of a pair of plates clamping said member andsupported upon said radially extending portions, one of said clampingplates being disposed above the other and comprising a ring portionincluding a surface disposed with angular-ity as respects and inoverlying relation to, said plate, said plate and ring portionencircling said column with clearance; and by said column meansincluding a downwardly haring portion spaced from and substantiallyoverlying said ring, ythe construction and arrangement being such thatupon undulating movement of said agitator means, wash fluid Within saidbasket is caused to be pumped, by the cooperative action of said ringand said column means daring portion, through the central opening ofsaid agitator means and through spaces between leg portions of saidbracket means.

9. In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: tub means;perforate basket means mounted for rotation about its axis within saidtub means; tripod means mounted within said basket means and including acentral portion concentric with said axis; a column extending coaxiallywith said central portion of said tripod means; and wobbleplate agitatormeans within said basket means, including radially extending armsdisposed in interdigitating relation as respects said tripod means, andvane means supported by said arms.

l0. The combination according to claim 9, and further characterized inthat said tripod means comprises a generally conical member includingapertures through which said support arms extend, said conical memberhaving a base portion aixed to said bracket means.

1l. The combination according to claim 9, and characterized in that saidvane means comprises an. undulatory iiexible and resilient annularmember, and further characterized by the inclusion of plates clampingsaid member and supported upon said arms.

12. The combination `according to claim 1l and fur-ther characterizedby: one of said clamping plates being disposed above the other andcomprising a ring portion including a surface disposed with angularityas respects, and in overlying relation to, said plate, said plates andring portion encircling said column with clearance; and by said columnincluding a downwardly flaring portion spaced from and substantiallyoverlying said ring, the construction and arrangement being such thatupon. undulating movement of said agitator means, wash liuid within saidbasket means is caused to -be pumped, by the cooperative action of saidring and said column flaring portion, down- Wardly through the centralopening of said agitator means and through spaces between elements ofsaid tripod means. `13; A combination according to claim 9, and furthercharacterized in that said tripod means comprises a plurality of legssupported upon said basket means, and said agitator means comprises agenerally disk shaped base member including openings through which saidlegs of said tripod means extend.

14. In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: tub means;perforate basket means mounted for coaxial rotation within said tubmeans and including a depressed central portion having aperturestherein; tripod means mounted within said depressed por-tion of saidbasket means and including a central portion concentric with the basketmeans; column means extending upwardly from said central portion of saidtripod means, the latter comprising a generally downwardly aring conicalmember having apertures therein; `and wobble plate agitator meansdisposed within said basket means, said agitator means includingradially presented arms extending through said apertures in said conicalmember, said agitator further including an undulatory liexible annularmember and a pair of plates clamping said member and supported upon saidarms, one of said clamping plates being disposed above the other andincluding a ring portion having a surface disposed with angularity asrespects and overlying relation to said one plate, said plates and ringportion encircling said column means with clearance, and said columnmeans including Ia downwardly aring portion spaced from Iandsubstantially overlying said ring portion, the construction andarrangement being such that upon undulating movement of said agitatormeans, wash iiuid within said basket means is caused to be pumped,through the cooperative action of said ring and said column means andthe cooperative action ofsaid resilient member and said conical member,downwardly through the central opening of -said agitator means andthrough openings in said conical member thence outwardly throughapertures provided in said depressed portion of said basket means.

l5. In a llaundry machine, the combination comprising:

container means within which clothes to -be Washed may be disposed;bracket means disposed Within said container me-ans and including legportions provided with base vmeans forY mounting said bracket meanswithin said container means; wobble-plate agitator means within saidcontainer means, including radially presented portions interposed innoninterfering relation with leg portions of said Ibracket means, andvane means supported by said radially presented portions; and columnmeans carried by said bracket means land extending therefrom upwardlywithin said container means.

16. The combination according to claim 15, and turther characterized inthat said `bracket means comprises a hollow member, said leg portionsare defined by apertured Wall portions thereof, and said radiallypresented portions extend through such apertures.

17. The combination according to claim 15, and ffu-rther characterizedin that said agitator means includes a generally disk shaped base memberhaving openings through which said leg portions of said bracket meansextend. Y

18. 'Ihe combination according to claim 15, and `further characterizedin that said bracket means comprises a generally conical member havingapertures through Which said radially presented portions of saidagitator means extend, the base portion lof said conical member definingsaid vbase means and afxed to said container means. l

acterized in that said leg portions lare dened by individual rod-likemembers extending upwardly from pads delining said base means.

20. The combination according to claim 15 and iurther characterized by:said vlane means comprising an undulatory exible and resilient annularmember, and by the inclusion of a pair `of plates clamping said inemberand supported upon said radially presented porti-ons, one of saidclamping plates being disposed above the other and comprising a ringportion including a surface disposed lwith angularity las respects, andin overlying relation to, said plate, said plate and ringportionencircling said column means with clearance, and by said column meansincluding la downwardly Haring portion spaced from and substantiallyoverlying said ring portion, the construction andV arrangement beingsuch that 'upon undulating movement of said agitator means, wash uidwithin said container means is caused to be pumped, by the cooperativeaction of said ring portion and isaid column Haring portion, through thecentral opening of said agitator means and throng-l1 spaces Ibetween legportions of said bracket means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A LAUNDRY MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: BASKET MEANS WITHINWHICH MAY BE DISPOSED CLOTHES TO BE WASHED; BRACKET MEANS DISPOSEDWITHIN SAID BASKET MEANS INCLUDING A CENTRAL PORTION CONCENTRIC WITH THEAXIS OF SAID BASKET MEANS, AND LEG PORTIONS HAVING BASE MEANS MOUNTINGTHE BRACKET MEANS UPON SAID BASKET MEANS; COLUMN MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAIDBRACKET MEANS AND EXTENDING COAXIALLY WITH SAID CENTRAL PORTION OF SAIDBRACKET MEANS; AND WOBBLE-PLATE AGITATOR MEANS WITHIN SAID BASKET MEANS,INCLUDING RADIALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS DISPOSED IN INTERDIGITATINGRELATION WITH SAID LEG PORTIONS OF SAID BRACKET MEANS, AND VANE MEANSSUPPORTED BY SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS.